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GOP aide: Craig's 2nd thoughts 'moot'

From NBC's Ken StricklandA senior Republican aide says talk of Sen. Larry Craig reconsidering his decision to resign "is moot," suggesting there is no way Craig can get his case settled by the courts or the Senate Ethics Committee in three and a half weeks.

The aide was referring to the statement from Craig spokesman Dan Whiting, who said, "Sen. Craig intends to resign on September 30th. However, he is fighting these charges, and should he be cleared before then, he may, and I emphasize may, not resign."

The aide said that the ethics investigation of Senator Bob Packwood in the 1990s dragged on for months. "It's moot," the aide repeated emphatically.

Republican Sen. Arlen Specter appears to be one of the motivating factors for Craig's apparent reconsideration. On FOX News Sunday, he said Craig should "fight the case." But don't expect any comments from Specter today, his office says. In a written statement this morning, Specter says, "At least for the time being, I have said all I intend to say publicly when I made my comments about Senator Craig's situation on Fox News last Sunday."

Craig's spokesman says he does NOT expect the Senator Craig to return to Washington this week.